December 2016 
Newsletter



TOGETHER,
SHAPING THE FUTURE.

Dear Friends of JA: 
 
As we come to the end of another remarkable year, I would like to share a quote from one of Google's top executives, Jamie Casap.

He said to stop asking students, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Instead, challenge them by asking, "What problems do you want to solve in the world, and what do you need to know in order to solve these problems?" 
 
We believe Casap's thinking and reasoning is the future of education.    That is why we have worked hard to incorporate his vision into our education programs this year.   Below are a few examples:
 
LPL Financial.   We partnered with LPL Financial to bring the lessons of "JA Career Success" to 75 Hoover High seniors during a one-day symposium at National University.  The students worked closely with LPL professionals to identify possible career paths, and practice how to apply critical thinking skills and problem-solving to job interviews. The feedback from the students was very encouraging.  "This is an important time in my life.  This workshop gives me the opportunity to work with real business professionals and learn what interview skills I will need to secure a great career", said Michelle Lozano, a 17-year old student at Hoover High. 
 
AT&T.   JA is helping students, like Michelle, become the next generation of problem-solvers by giving them access to some of the greatest minds and companies in the nation.  Through the  JA Job Shadow   program and the  AT&T Aspire   grant, we impacted hundreds of students from low-income families by giving them meaningful workplace experiences. 
 
JA Job Shadow.   The JA Job Shadow program has seen a significant transformation this year reaching a record-breaking 5,500 high school students this year.  This number reflects a remarkable 40% increase compared to last year. 
 
Technology Transformation.  JA is revolutionizing our programs by infusing technology and blended learning into student experiences.  The Career Center in the JA Finance Park is a powerful online resource where students and adults can explore and research 220 jobs and career paths right here within the San Diego economy.   
 
As we approach the close of 2016, we want to thank you for supporting Junior Achievement. Together, we will continue to inspire the next generation of problem-solvers to believe that anything is possible, and turn "I can't" into "I CAN!" 
 
Happy Holidays and cheers to a thriving and successful 2017,

Marla 

 
JA Teen Ambassadors with JA staff, Karla Easton and Valerie Hash.

JA Teen Ambassadors Bring Holiday Joy to a local Family
The JA staff and Teen Ambassadors are bringing some holiday cheer to one local family by adopting a single mom and her four young children through the UCSD's Operation Santa program.  Our team raised $600, providing a holiday meal, groceries and lots of gifts for the entire family. 
 
"It makes me grateful to be able to give back to this family who is struggling and bring some holiday cheer inside their home," said Rosa Perez, a JA Teen Ambassador and  16-year old student at Point Loma High school.  "It was really fun buying the gifts.  I am especially proud of the Dora Doll that will be presented to the 18-month old little girl. I hope it makes her smile."
Start the New Year by Volunteering with JA
75,000!  That is the number of students we are hoping to reach this year.  We cannot do it alone.  Once again we are counting on   YOU to bring our financial literacy programs to life. Your role as a JA volunteer is vital in shaping the lives of tomorrow's leaders.   In January, we will be looking for volunteers to support our "Mission Fed JA Finance Park," "JA in a Day," and "McGrath Family JA BizTown" programs. For more details on current JA volunteer needs,  please refer to the following:

 
#HourofCode
Despite growing demand for jobs in computer science, this field remains marginalized throughout the US K-12 education system.  According to the  Bureau of Labor Statistics  and National Science Foundation, by 2020, there will be one million more jobs, than students entering the coding and computer science fields.  California is one of 17 states that still does not require all high schools to offer computer science courses before graduation.
 



For these reasons, JA kicked off Computer Science Education Week (Dec.5-9) by putting tech experts inside 10 classrooms.   One of the highlights was partnering with The Control Group  to teach Hour of Code to 70 students from Hoover Academy of Information Technology (AOIT).   These students, who are currently taking high-level courses specifically designed for a future career in computer technology, had fun gaining rare access to the school's website to "temporarily" change their grades!
 
The Control Group's Tischa Culver helps students learn how to write HTML code.

Freshmen girls take a break for a quick smile during the Hour of Code program.


"Through events like Hour of Code, students see not only how important learning to code is for their possible future careers, but also how much fun it can be," said   Tischa Culver, Public Relations and Communications Specialist at The Control Group .  "We hope this event will encourage the students to continue to work hard and to ultimately consider pursuing a post-secondary education and/or career in computer sciences."
 
Students from Kearny High also had fun working closely with the tech experts from Pluralsight to learn about careers in the data science field and how to write code.










Thank You for Giving Students the Gift of JA

Thanks to the generous support and commitment from the following companies, foundations and individuals, JA has raised $105,495 for student scholarships.  This financial support gives 2,100 students who would otherwise not have the opportunity, the chance to experience a JA program. Thank you for giving students the gift of JA!
 

LPL's Christine Masuda teaches a student how to succeed beyond the classroom. 

LPL & JA prepare Students for Career Success
This month, LPL Financial and Junior Achievement partnered to bring the "JA Career Success"  curriculum to 75 Hoover High School students for a one-day symposium hosted at National University.    
 
The program allowed seniors to work closely and interact with LPL business professionals to explore fundamental elements of career success.  Students learned valuable skills to find their dream job, including writing resumes, cover letters and perfecting interviewing techniques.
 
"There is great energy in the room.  Working with the LPL and JA professionals brings much needed relevancy and impact to the students as they prepare to embark on their journey after high school.    This makes it real," said Angie Hummel, director of the Sustainable Academy of Building & Engineering (SABE) at Hoover High.
 
The workshop was designed to prepare seniors for what happens after high school.  This comes at a time when 39 percent of U.S. employers recognize talent shortages impact their ability to serve clients and customers, according to a Talent Shortage Survey, conducted by the Manpower Group in 2015.
 
LPL's Sallie Larsen, Hoover Student Michelle Lozano and JA's Marla Black. 
"The LPL culture is one that values these types of connections and the meaningful impact that is made for both employees and the community," said Sallie Larsen, LPL Chief Human Capital Officer, who hosted the symposium . 

"Our employees get the chance to give back to the communities where we work and live and the students obtain an enriching experience that creates greater opportunities for them as they pursue their goals."

Be a Champion for Youth

This year, we are once again partnering with The Century Club and Farmers Insurance through the Champions for Youth initiative. The charity campaign featured at the upcoming PGA Golf Tournament at Torrey Pines allows JA to receive 100% of your contribution---plus qualify for up-to $45,000 in additional bonus funding. 

Be a  Champion for Youth and support JA's life-changing programs through this amazing initiative.  GIVE NOW.
 

ARE YOU JA? 

January is when we celebrate JA Alumni Month. The initiative is an effort to reconnect with millions of people who participated in Junior Achievement programs while in grades K -12 since the organization's founding in 1919. 
 
JA alumni represent a qualified volunteer force that already believes in JA's mission of inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy.
 
Did JA make a difference in your life? Is there a story you want to share about how a JA mentor positively influenced your life or career?  Are you JA? Please reconnect with JA by calling our office at (619) 682-5155 or email   [email protected] 
 
Casino Night!

JA Supporters and Volunteers, Carol Roberts and Bob Alden roll the dice to support on JA Casino Night!
One of our favorite events is soon upon us! Please mark your calendars for Friday, January 27th for the annual   JA Casino Night, brought to you in partnership with   6 Degrees Networking.

Test your skills at Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, or visit the crowd-favorite - the Bingo Lounge! For every game you win, you have a greater chance of winning some of the amazing gift packages offered; including trips, jewelry, family fun and other great experiences!
 


A Special Guest Visits JA BizTown
Students from Aviara Oaks Elementary had a chance to work with the new Superintendent of Carlsbad Unified School District, Dr. Benjamin Churchill at the  McGrath Family JA BizTown in December.  
Superintendent, Dr. Benjamin Churchill with his daughter at JA BizTown.

Dr. Churchill, who volunteered with his 5th grade daughter, supports Junior Achievement's mission to educate students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through  experiential, hands-on programs. 
 
We have a long-standing partnership with Carlsbad Unified School District  and we look forward to working with their students, teachers and staff in 2017.

AT&T team hosts JA Job Shadow with San Diego High students.

AT&T Impact
On Tuesday, December 6, students from San Diego High School participated in a  AT&T's Aspire Mentoring Academy and JA's Job Shadow program.   The event paired 60 students with AT&T employees to learn firsthand about having a professional career at the global multimedia company and which educational skills and background, they will need to succeed on the job. 
 
"It is really neat to be out of the classroom and interacting with real business professionals", said Maryan Mohamed, a senior at San Diego High.  "I have learned so much about the skills I will need to be successful with a future career in an amazing company, like AT&T." 
 
AT&T Telepresence Solution allows students to have an interactive broadcast from Texas.
S tudents also had the opportunity to listen to career advice from AT&T employees in other states across the US, using AT&T's Telepresence Solution® , an advanced, high-definition videoconference that creates the sensation of an in-person meeting. 

The program included a tour at the Data Center facility and an interactive live broadcast. 
 

Making a Difference

Junior Achievement has once again made a measurable impact on the next generation of San Diego's leaders thanks to the remarkable employees at  Ashford University   &  Bridgepoint   Education!

Thirty-three employees took a break from their day jobs to bring financial literacy education to 400 students at Pomerado Elementary's JA Day in Poway. Thank you for making a difference.
 
Ashford University and Bridgepoint Education team gears up for a JA Day.

The Young, Talented Ladies of Hermanitas Talk $ at JA Finance Park

The "JA for Everyone" program was proud to host the young ladies of Hermanitas.  The group is a part of MANA de San Diego, a local nonprofit that promotes higher education, leadership and peer support to young, local Latinas, ages 12-18.
 Young ladies of Hermanitas learn to budget at Mission Fed JA Finance Park.

" These young ladies had the opportunity to walk in the shoes of an adult on a monthly budget for the day and open their eyes to what is expected of them as productive adults. I was thrilled at the level of participation and the enthusiasm they had for learning and making ends meet for their virtual family," said Valerie Hash, Implementation Manager at Mission Fed JA Finance Park. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Torrey Pines Bank

We are delighted to feature Torrey Pines Bank as Volunteer of the Month.  Every year, we can always count on their phenomenal volunteers to create rewarding experiences for our 5th grade students at the McGrath Family JA BizTown. Since November, 22 volunteers have dedicated their time, energy and passion to work alongside the students in one of the 21 shops.  

"Junior Achievement's JA BizTown program is very important to our team, it is a way to get young students to connect classroom learning to the real world of adult responsibilities," said Renee Cole, Real Estate Closer at Torrey Pines Bank.




Torrey Pines Bank's Chris Walby works with 5th graders at the Cox Shop.

Torrey Pines Bank's Renee Cole gives a tour of the airplane at JA BizTown.


  "We could not run our BizTown program without volunteers, our corporate volunteers are especially essential to filling the gaps when schools struggle to recruit parents.  We appreciate their time and dedication to our program and look forward to working with them each and every year", said Deanne Markle, McGrath Family JA BizTown Manager.

Your past and continued support will change the lives of students, one volunteer at a time.
 Thank you for making a difference with your passion, dedication, and expertise.    If you would like to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to volunteer with JA.  Get involved now by visiting   jasandiego.org